Sensor-activated toilet seat

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to provide a sensor-activated toilet seat, including a base body, a toilet lid, a seat, a controller, a first lid lifter, a second lid lifter, a first sensor, a second sensor and an electricity device. The controller comprises a micro processor. When the first sensor detects a human body, the micro processor starts up the second sensor and makes the toilet lid pivot to a lifting position. When the first sensor detects the human body again, the seat pivots to the lifting position. And when the human body is away from the second sensor, the micro processor would make the toilet lid and the seat pivot to a closing position with closing the second sensor. Thus, the sensor-activated toilet seat of the present invention provides a two-stage method of an auto-lifting toilet lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sensor-activated toilet seat.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The conventional toilet seat includes a base body, a seat and a toiletlid. The seat and the toilet lid close the toilet when they are notused. When users need to use the toilet, they have to lift the toiletlid by hands, and then sit down on the seat. For gentlemen, they have tolift both the toilet lid and the seat to urinate. However, sometimesusers' hands would touch fecal matters. If users use hands with fecalmatters to put down the seat or the toilet lid on the toilet, the toiletwould be stained with fecal matters. Besides, some gentlemen oftenurinate without lifting the seat. As a result, the seat and the innerside of the toilet lid would be stained with urine. And other users haveto clean the surface of the seat and the inner side of the toilet beforeusing. Otherwise, users' body would touch the fecal matters and feeluncomfortable. Moreover, uses have dangers of being exploded to thosediseases infected by urine.

The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at leastmitigate the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide asensor-activated toilet seat which has an automatic function of liftinga toilet lid.

To achieve above, the sensor-activated toilet seat of the presentinvention includes a base body, a toilet lid, a seat, a controller, afirst lid lifter, a second lid lifter, a first sensor, a second sensorand an electricity device.

The base body can be disposed on a toilet. The seat is located betweenthe toilet and the toilet lid. The controller comprises a microprocessor. The first lid lifter is used for making the toilet lid pivotwith respect to the base body. The second lid lifter is used for makingthe seat pivot with respect to the base body. The first sensor isdisposed on the toilet lid. The second sensor is disposed on a closingsurface of the toilet lid.

When the first sensor detects movements of a human body, the microprocessor starts up the second sensor and the first lid lifter so thatthe toilet lid pivots to a lifting position.

When the first sensor detects movements of the human body again, themicro processor starts up the second lid lifter so that the seat pivotsto the lifting position as well.

When people is out of a detecting range of the second sensor, the microprocessor starts up the first lid lifter and the second lifter withclosing the second sensor so that the toilet lid and the seat wouldpivot back to a closing position.

The present invention provides a two-stage method of an auto-liftingtoilet lid. Thus, users can choose to sit down on the toilet or lift theseat according to their needs. And after being used, the toilet lid andthe seat can move back to the closing position automatically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a combination of the toilet andthe sensor-activated toilet seat in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a decomposition drawing of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a stereogram of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing the toilet lid lifted of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing of the FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing a condition that the toilet lidand the seat are lifted of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, the sensor-activated toiletseat of the present invention includes a base body 10, a toilet lid 20,a seat 30, a controller 40, a first lid lifter 50, a second lid lifter60, a first sensor 70, a second sensor 80, an electricity device 90, afirst adjusting unit and a second adjusting unit.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the base body is disposed on a toilet.The base body 10 includes a shell 11 and a bottom lid 12. The shell 11is formed a containing room 111, and the bottom lid 12 is fixed on thetoilet 1. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theshell 11 has an operation panel 112 (As shown in FIG. 5). In otherpossible embodiment, the operation panel 112 can also be fixed on thetoilet lid 20 or the seat 30.

The toilet lid 20 includes a first end 21 and a second end 22. The firstend can be pivotally disposed with the base body 10, and the second end22 is on one end away from the base body 10. That is, the first end canbe pivotally disposed on the shell 11 of the base body 10.

The seat 30, located between the toilet 1 and the toilet lid 20, can bepivotally disposed on the base body 10. That is, the seat 30 can bepivotally disposed on the shell 11 of the base body 10.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2and FIG. 7, the controller 40 is disposed in the containing room 111 ofthe shell 11. The controller 40 includes a micro processor 41 and adetecting module 42. The detecting module 42 connects to the microprocessor 41 electrically. The detecting module 42 includes a firstadjusting member 421, assigned with plural detecting ranges of the firstsensor; and a second adjusting member 422, assigned with pluraldetecting ranges of the second sensor.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 disclose an embodiment that the first lid lifter 50 isdisposed in the base body 10. To increase a perfection of the presentinvention, the first lid lifter 50 can be disposed in the containingroom 111. The first lid lifter 50 connects to the micro processor 41electrically. The first lid lifter 50 is used for making the toilet lid20 pivot with respect to the base body so that the toilet lid 20 couldpivot between a lifting position and a closing position. When the toiletlid is located at the closing position, the toilet lid has a closingsurface 23 facing the toilet. In the present embodiment of the presentinvention, the first lid lifter 50 includes a first motor 51, connectingto the micro processor, and a first rotator 52. The micro processor 41starts up the first motor 51, and the first motor 51 drives the firstrotator 52 so that the first rotator 52 can rotate upward to lift ordownward to close the toilet lid 20.

The second lid lifter 60 is disposed in the base body 10. To increase aperfection of the present invention, the second lid lifter 60 isdisposed in the containing room 111. The second lid lifter 60 connectsto the micro processor 41 electrically. The second lid lifter is usedfor making the seat 30 pivot with respect to the base body 10 so thatthe seat 30 can pivot between the lifting position and the closingposition. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, thesecond lid lifter 60 includes a second motor 61 and a second rotator 62.The second motor 61 connects to the micro processor 41. The microprocessor 62 drives the second motor 61, and then the second motor 61drives the second rotator 62. Thus, the second rotator 62 can rotateupward to lift or downward to close the seat 30.

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 7, the first sensor 70 isdisposed on the second end 22 of the toilet lid with connecting to themicro processor electrically. As shown in FIG. 3, the first sensor isdisposed on an edge of the second end of the toilet lid with extendingto a top surface of the second end. In other possible embodiments, thefirst sensor can also be disposed on the edge of the second end of thetoilet lid or the top surface of the second end directly.

FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 show that the second sensor 80 is disposed onthe closing surface 23 of the toilet lid, and the second sensor 80connects to the micro processor electrically.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the electricity device 90 is used foroffering electricity to the controller 40, the first lid lifter 50, thesecond lid lifter 60, the first sensor 70 and the second sensor 80. Theelectricity device 90 is disposed in the containing room 111. In thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the electricity device 90includes a battery such as a rechargeable battery, a dry battery or alithium battery, and the electricity device can also be a plug or a drybattery.

The first adjusting unit is used for choosing one detecting range out ofthe detecting ranges of the first sensor. The first adjusting unitincludes an auto-switching member 423, disposed in the detecting module42 and connecting to the first adjusting member 421 electrically. Whenthe toilet lid 20 pivots to the lifting position or the closingposition, the auto-switching member 423 would make the first adjustingmember 421 change the detecting range. In a preferred embodiment withmore perfection, the first adjusting member 421 is assigned with alarger detecting range and a smaller detecting range. Therefore, whenthe toilet lid 20 pivots to the lifting position, the auto-switchingmember 423 would have the first adjusting member 421 switch thedetecting range from the smaller detecting range to a larger one. Whenthe toilet lid 20 pivots to the closing position, the auto-switchingmember 423 would have the first adjusting member 421 switch thedetecting range from the larger detecting range to a smaller one.

The second adjusting unit, including an adjusting button 113, is usedfor choosing one detecting range out of the detecting ranges of thesecond sensor. The adjusting button 113 is disposed on the operationpanel 112 with connecting to the second adjusting member 422. Theadjusting button 113 offers a function of choosing a detecting range ofthe second sensor.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, when the toilet lid 20 and the seat 30are located at the closing position with the first sensor detectingmovements from a human body, the micro processor 41 starts up the secondsensor 80 and the first lid lifter 50 to make the toilet lid 20 pivot tothe lifting position. As such, users can sit down on the seat to use thetoilet.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a gentleman wants to urinate by standing andthe toilet lid 20 pivots to the lifting position, the first sensor 70towards up so that the auto-switching member would switch the largerdetecting range to the smaller detecting range. Then, with hands wavingabove the first sensor 70, the micro processor 41 would start up thesecond lid lifter 60 to make the seat 30 pivot to the lifting position.As such, by the present invention, the two-stage driving method of theseat and the toilet lid enables users to choose to sit down on thetoilet or lift the seat according to their needs. No matter men orwomen, they do not have to lift the toilet lid by hands. Moreover, thetwo-stage design of auto-lifting method for the toilet lid can enhancemen's willing to lift the seat and the toilet lid. As a result, thesurface of the seat and the closing surface of the toilet lid would nothave problems of being stained with urine or fecal matters.

When people is out of the detecting range of the second sensor 80, themicro processor 41 starts up the first lid lifter 50 and the second lidlifter 60 with closing the second sensor 80, and the toilet lid 20 andthe seat 30 would pivot to the closing position. At this moment, theauto-switching member 423 would switch the detecting range from thesmaller one to the larger one. Thus, the first sensor and the secondsensor are back to a condition that nobody uses. And users do not haveto close the seat or the toilet lid by hands after using, so the seatand the toilet lid would not be stained by the urine or fecal matters onhands. Furthermore, the micro processor would close the second sensor toreach a goal of saving electricity as well.

By what is described above, when the toilet is positioned in a narrowlavatory, the second sensor would detect other objects even nobody is inthe detecting range, causing a problem that the toilet lid or the seatcould not pivot to the closing position. However, a combination of thesecond adjusting member and the adjusting button offers users to adjustthe detecting range of the second sensor according to the size of thelavatory.

Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 4, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the sensor-activatedtoilet seat of the present invention further includes a third sensor A.The third sensor A, disposed on the closing surface of the toilet lid,connects to the micro processor 41. The third sensor A is used fordetecting movements from people. When the first sensor 70 detectsmovements from people, the micro processor 41 would start up the secondsensor 80 and the third sensor A. When the second sensor 80 detectsnothing in the detecting range and the third sensor detects departingmovements from people, the micro processor would start up the first lidlifter 50 and the second lid lifter 60 with closing the second sensorand the third sensor. Thus, the toilet lid 20 and the seat 30 wouldpivot to the closing position. As such, if the second sensor is equippedwith infrared rays which have angle limitations on detecting, some tallmen would mislead the second sensor to tell the tall men are away fromthe detecting range. Thus, the third sensor can be used as a preventingmechanism so that the second sensor would not mislead by the height ofthe tall men.

1. A sensor-activated toilet seat, comprising: a base body, the basebody being adapted for being disposed on a toilet; a toilet lid,comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotallydisposed with the base body; a seat, the seat being pivotally disposedon the base body, the seat is located between the toilet and the toiletlid; a controller, comprising a micro processor; a first lid lifter, thefirst lid lifter connecting to the micro processor electrically, thefirst lid lifter being used for enabling the toilet lid to pivot betweena lifting position and a closing position; wherein when the toilet lidis located at the closing position, the toilet lid has a closing surfacefacing to the toilet; a second lid lifter, the second lid lifterconnecting to the micro processor electrically, the second lid lifterbeing used for enabling the seat to pivot between a lifting position anda closing position; a first sensor, the first sensor being disposed onthe second end of the toilet lid, the first sensor connecting to themicro processor electrically; a second sensor, the second sensor beingdisposed on the closing surface of the toilet lid, the second sensorconnecting to the micro processor electrically; and an electricitydevice, the electricity device being used for offering electricity tothe controller, the first lid lifter, the second lid lifter, the firstsensor and the second sensor; wherein when toilet lid and the seat arelocated at the closing position and the first sensor detects a humanbody, the micro processor starts up the second sensor and the first lidlifter so that the toilet lid pivots to the lifting position; whereinwhen the toilet lid is located at the lifting position and the firstsensor detects to a human body, the micro processor starts up the secondlid lifter so that the seat pivots to the lifting position; wherein whenthe human body is out of a detecting range of the second sensor, themicro processor starts up the first lid lifter and the second lid lifterwith closing the second sensor to make the toilet lid and the seat pivotto the closing position.
 2. The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim 1,wherein the controller comprises a detecting module, connecting to themicro processor electrically, the detecting module comprises a firstadjusting member, being assigned with plural detecting ranges of thefirst sensor; wherein the controller further comprises a first adjustingunit, being used for choosing one detecting range out of the detectingranges of the first sensor.
 3. The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim2, wherein the first adjusting unit comprises an auto-switching member,being disposed in the detecting module, the auto-switching memberconnects to the first adjusting member electrically, when the toilet lidpivots to the lifting position or the closing position, theauto-switching member makes the first adjusting member change thedetecting ranges.
 4. The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim 3,wherein the detecting module comprises a second adjusting member, beingassigned with plural detecting ranges of the second sensor; wherein thebase body further comprises a second adjusting unit, being used forchoosing one detecting range out of the detecting ranges of the secondsensor.
 5. The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim 4, wherein thesecond adjusting unit, connecting to the second adjusting member,comprises an adjusting button, the adjusting button is used for pushingto choose a detecting range of the second sensor.
 6. Thesensor-activated toilet seat of claim 1, wherein the first lid lifter isdisposed in the base body, the first lid lifter comprises a first motorand a first rotator, the first motor connects to the micro processorelectrically, the micro processor starts up the first motor, the firstmotor starts up the first rotator so that the first rotator lifts orcloses the toilet lid.
 7. The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim 2,wherein the first lid lifter is disposed in the base body, the first lidlifter comprises a first motor and a first rotator, the first motorconnects to the micro processor electrically, the micro processor startsup the first motor, the first motor starts up the first rotator so thatthe first rotator lifts or closes the toilet lid.
 8. Thesensor-activated toilet seat of claim 3, wherein the first lid lifter isdisposed in the base body, the first lid lifter comprises a first motorand a first rotator, the first motor connects to the micro processorelectrically, the micro processor starts up the first motor, the firstmotor starts up the first rotator so that the first rotator lifts orcloses the toilet lid.
 9. The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim 4,wherein the first lid lifter is disposed in the base body, the first lidlifter comprises a first motor and a first rotator, the first motorconnects to the micro processor electrically, the micro processor startsup the first motor, the first motor starts up the first rotator so thatthe first rotator lifts or closes the toilet lid.
 10. Thesensor-activated toilet seat of claim 6, wherein the second lid lifteris disposed in the base body, the second lid lifter comprises a secondmotor and a second rotator, the second motor connects to the microprocessor electrically, the micro processor starts up the second motor,the second motor starts up the second rotator so that the second rotatorlifts or closes the seat.
 11. The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim7, wherein the second lid lifter is disposed in the base body, thesecond lid lifter comprises a second motor and a second rotator, thesecond motor connects to the micro processor electrically, the microprocessor starts up the second motor, the second motor starts up thesecond rotator so that the second rotator lifts or closes the seat. 12.The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim 8, wherein the second lidlifter is disposed in the base body, the second lid lifter comprises asecond motor and a second rotator, the second motor connects to themicro processor electrically, the micro processor starts up the secondmotor, the second motor starts up the second rotator so that the secondrotator lifts or closes the seat.
 13. The sensor-activated toilet seatof claim 9, wherein the second lid lifter is disposed in the base body,the second lid lifter comprises a second motor and a second rotator, thesecond motor connects to the micro processor electrically, the microprocessor starts up the second motor, the second motor starts up thesecond rotator so that the second rotator lifts or closes the seat. 14.The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim 1, wherein the toilet seatsensor further comprises a third sensor, the third sensor is disposed onthe closing surface of the toilet lid, the third sensor connects to themicro processor electrically, the third sensor is used for detectingmovements of a human body.
 15. The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim2, wherein the toilet seat sensor further comprises a third sensor, thethird sensor is disposed on the closing surface of the toilet lid, thethird sensor connects to the micro processor electrically, the thirdsensor is used for detecting movements of a human body.
 16. Thesensor-activated toilet seat of claim 3, wherein the toilet seat sensorfurther comprises a third sensor, the third sensor is disposed on theclosing surface of the toilet lid, the third sensor connects to themicro processor electrically, the third sensor is used for detectingmovements of a human body.
 17. The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim4, wherein the toilet seat sensor further comprises a third sensor, thethird sensor is disposed on the closing surface of the toilet lid, thethird sensor connects to the micro processor electrically, the thirdsensor is used for detecting movements of a human body.
 18. Thesensor-activated toilet seat of claim 5, wherein the toilet seat sensorfurther comprises a third sensor, the third sensor is disposed on theclosing surface of the toilet lid, the third sensor connects to themicro processor electrically, the third sensor is used for detectingmovements of a human body.
 19. The sensor-activated toilet seat of claim1, wherein the electricity device comprises a rechargeable battery.